Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Trouble in...Endowment Land

Do we have a new problem in Jerusalem?

This time between Muslims and...Christians?See what was reported in the final paragraph below:

Abqirat: No changes to the Endowments Department The diversion of Christian endowments is a diversion to the maximum [the Haram al-Sheikh] 2017-10-29Sheikh Najah Abkirat Head of Manuscripts and Heritage Section at Al-Aqsa Mosque denied that there were any amendments or additions in connection with the Islamic Waqf Department in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.Abekirat said in a statement to "Dunia al-Watan": "This subject has no basis, there are no cancellations or changes in the Department of Endowments since a long time so far, and everything published is pure lies."He added: "The whole story is the transfer of one employee, Sheikh Raed Daana in the matter of the standing in the preaching and guidance in front of a mosque."In this context, he cleared the earlier news about the removal of the director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, stripped of his powers and turned it into the mosque, saying that this is a slanderous speech.He pointed out that the aim of these rumors is to weaken the circle of Palestinian Waqf in the Al-Aqsa Mosque at a time when the state of occupation to raise issues on the Palestinian Waqf, especially the issue of Bab al-Rahma, stressing at the same time that there is an intention by the occupation to weaken the Department of Awqaf until it comes Israeli religiousRegarding the sale or slippages in Jerusalem and the Holy City, Abekirat said: "The diversion of any centimeter from the Christian endowments is a diversion to the roofs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Commentary: The Muslims would like the Christians to adopt their form of waqf system, of endowing or rather dedicating property for a sacred purpose to prevent its sale.See here. And here.^

About Me

American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.